SPOTLIGHT: SAM HICKEY

Your subscription business model is entirely different from the mainstream clothing retail model, what were the key insights that lead you to establish Asuwere in its current form? 

After working in the industry for 10 or so years in NZ and Europe, I saw an opportunity to focus on making what the customer wants, and how they want it, the core part of the business model. A customer-first approach is something my brother and Co-founder Noah is really passionate about. Guys want good quality staples that they can trust they will look good day-to-day. Once they find what they like, they stay pretty true to that. We’re all on the hunt for that perfect tee or perfect chino, and finding them can be a real challenge. There are far too many options to choose from, store racks are often overstocked, you’re sold colours in the heat of the moment but regret buying the second you get home. It’s time-consuming and, for a lot of guys, it’s a very stressful experience. What we’ve come to the market saying is we know what you need, we know when you need it and we will deliver it to your door once a month for $99.  Our in-store experience really tries to replicate this too, it’s a comfortable environment where you can come in for a coffee or beer, try on the up-coming pieces and know you’ve sorted your clothes shopping for the months to come. 

Tell us about your background and what lead you to establish Asuwere
I’ve always had an interest in clothing, which came from my family. Dad used to make shirts, Mum made bikinis and having two older brothers inspired the way I dressed and this just continued as I got older. I grew up and lived in Auckland until I was 25, studied a certificate in business at AUT and after working in event management I finally landed at AUT again studying a Bachelor of Fashion Design. It was a great course which really honed in my love of clothing and brought a bit more of a technical thinking to my approach (how to pattern, sew and build a collection).
     Admittedly, the main reason I was there was to design clothes I wanted to wear. Not too long after graduating I landed the job as menswear designer at Huffer (which was a huge moment) and over the next 3 ½ years working with such an iconic brand, I was able to refine my style and bring a bit of this to them also. I then moved to the UK to gain more experience at scale but also enjoy what Europe has to offer, music festivals, amazing countries, it was the best decision I’ve made and the learnings and lifestyle there really helped make the call to give it a go myself. 

You’ve just launched a great campaign with Fix Up Look Sharp, tell us about that and how important is it for businesses to give back to the community?

Giving back is really important, something I think we’ve learnt from our mum who is so generous with her time. Our whole model is to try and help guys out and deliver them quality products that they can trust they’ll look good in, but that is still a luxury not everyone can afford. We aim to close the loop by taking our members clothes they no longer need and giving them to people who do. Fix Up Look Sharp has been helping guys out for years and when we came across them we were so inspired and knew Jane was the perfect person to partner with and donate clothes.

What are your biggest learnings from starting a business that you can pass on to other aspiring entrepreneurs?

It’s hard. And it’s easy to beat yourself up when you see other people or brands doing cool things but the reality is, it’s hard for everyone. Just have clarity around what you are trying to achieve, your ‘why’, and understand you can’t do it all at once and that’s fine. Having people you can trust around you who you know have your back certainly helps. I’m incredibly lucky with the team I have around me who it wouldn’t be possible without.